Bendigo Woollen Mills Cotton

I have been shopping online again (~_~) This amazing colour card arrived in my letterbox and I went to their website just to have a look around. I couldn't help it. They were a bargain and on special! 

I bought five of the pure cotton skeins in 4 ply.

I ordered the following colours: Peach (807) Light teal (891) Blush (811) Sky (812) and Regal (815)
I am picturing lots and lots of baby kinas knitted up in these pretty colours or maybe using them all to make a striped something for me (that's not really likely to happen but it's nice to think about it just the same). More than likely it will be baby stuff or perhaps something for my nieces. Who knows.

WIP - Crocheted Jellyfish Applique

I started making a jellyfish the other day. My first attempt was not so good. I thought making a semi-circle would be a great idea and them add some chains for the tentacles. Easy-peasy, right? Wrong! It looked horrible. It looked just like a half circle. I promptly pulled that apart and went hunting for a pattern that I was sure I had saved.

My first attempt which I pulled apart

 My second attempt looks much nicer. Although the jelly fish is rather tiny. It's only around 3 inches in size but what an improvement on my poor attempt without a pattern!!! I found and bought the pattern on craftsy. It's called Jellyfish Applique by Golden Lucy Crafts. Since the jelly fish is tiny I thought that I would make two or three to put on the square. Once I have finished the square I'll share some photos.

sewing all the ends in was a bit tedious but it's worth it

Thankful Thursday

Here's what I am thankful for this week:

• challenges - my new crochet blanket is providing plenty of those. They gets the old grey matter working that's for sure!
• crazy kitties - they keep me amused with their antics
• visiting teachers - it's always nice to have them come over for a visit
• being able to share (& give away) what I make with my crochet/knitting
• nice weather - it means my washing gets dry without my having to use the clothes dryer

What are you thankful for this week?

WIP - Crochet Seashell Appliqué

On Monday night I finished my first square for my new blanket.  I mentioned on Sunday that I had pulled apart my work several times but here's what I ended up with.  I think it looks pretty good considering I didn't have a pattern.

Please tell me that this looks like a seashell. Perhaps when the rest of the squares are done that it will look more like a shell. Anyway I'm off to work on another square (~_~)

October 29 - World Psoriasis Day

I don't talk about the fact that I have psoriasis very often. I've had it for so long that it is just part of who I am. I was only a young child in grade three when I was diagnosed. I have now lived with psoriasis for 38 years.

Not that I remember this but one day when I was still in primary school, probably not long after I was diagnosed, I came home crying my eyes out. Apparently the school didn't want me there because of my skin being the way it was. My Dad, who is my hero, went to the school and basically told them off for making me feel so miserable. My sister, Julie, told me that this happened. I have absolutely no recollection of it at all.  I guess ignorance about psoriasis showed its ugly head and sadly still does.


Here are some facts about psoriasis that you may not know.

• it is NOT contagious. You will NOT catch it by being near someone who has it.
• psoriasis is an auto-immune disease
• there is NO cure. If you hear someone say that they have a cure for it they are fibbing. You cannot cure psoriasis but it can go into remission
• between 1 - 3 % of the Australian population has psoriasis and as many as 7 million in the US have it.
• Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body and is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression.
• treatments: what works for one person may not work as well for another. 

Here are some links that are useful if you have psoriasis or know someone with this condition or just want to learn a little more about it:
http://www.psoriasis.org/
http://www.psoriasis-help.org.uk/
https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/
http://lifewithpsoriasis.com.au/

If you have psoriasis you are NOT alone. If you need someone to talk about it feel free to contact me (bloss90 at gmail dot com). I am more than happy to chat with you about it.

WIP - Crochet Seashell Applique

I got so frustrated with my crocheting last night that I pulled apart the shell I was working on three times.

The photos below are what I ended up finishing this afternoon.

It looks like a shell right? I am thinking I might crochet around the shell in another colour and perhaps add some stripes.
Working without a pattern was definitely a challenge! 

Size Doesn't Matter ...